Preface

• Author: Kent Roach
• Pages: 23-24

xxiii

PR EFACE

TO THE FIFTH EDITION

This book is designed to provide a concise a nd current discus sion of

the basic principles of Canadian criminal law. To this end, the heart

of this book examines the principles of the general part of the crim-

inal law: the elements of offences and the relevant defences. It follows

the traditional conceptual ization of the general part, but it examines

unfulf‌illed cr imes and part icipation in crimes earlier than other works

because of their great practical importance and t heir effective expan-

sion of the prohibited act. Regulatory offences and corporate cr iminal

liability are examined together because of their f unctional and context-

ual similar ities.

A few chapters attempt to place the general principles of the crim-

inal law in context. Chapter 1 provides an overview of all the topics

examined in t he book. Chapter 2 examines t he constitutional prin-

ciples that affect the investigat ion of crime, the criminal trial process,

and the substantive criminal law as they relate to fault requirements

and defences. Chapter 10 examines selected offences includi ng homi-

cide, sexual offences, property, and terrorism offences. Provocation is

also exami ned in this chapter. Other contextual chapters include chap-

ter 11, which examines the principles of sentencing, and chapter 12,

which outlines models of the cri minal process a nd trends in the crim-

inal law. These chapters are not intended to be comprehensive, and

each deserves a book in its own right, but it is hoped they will provide

readers with a fuller sense of the crimi nal law than would be provided

if the book were restricted to the general part of the crim inal law.

I have avoided the temptation to engage in extended criticism s of

decided cases in order to focus on how each ca se f‌its into the over-